One of the charming things about college baseball is the little guys sometimes beat the big boys, the way UC Irvine knocked off Texas in Texas.
Now UCLA must go to Cal State Fullerton for a best-of-three NCAA super regional that begins today.
One of the charming things about college baseball is the little guys sometimes beat the big boys, the way UC Irvine knocked off Texas in Texas.
Now UCLA must go to Cal State Fullerton for a best-of-three NCAA super regional that begins today.
A quick compare-and-contrast:
Most famous thoroughfare -- UCLA, Westwood; Fullerton, Nutwood.
Nobel laureates on faculty -- UCLA 5; Fullerton 0.
NCAA Division I championships -- UCLA 100 (none in baseball); Fullerton 5 (four in baseball).
Most-famous baseball alum -- UCLA, Jackie Robinson; Fullerton, Kevin Costner (though the Titans alum played baseball only on the silver screen).
Coaching sage -- UCLA, John Wooden; Fullerton, former (and now Texas) baseball coach Augie Garrido.
Current major leaguers -- UCLA 8, including Chase Utley and Garrett Atkins; Fullerton 11, including Chad Cordero and Mark Kotsay.
All-time major leaguers -- UCLA 55; Fullerton 44.
Men's basketball series -- UCLA leads, 9-0.
Baseball series -- Fullerton leads, 48-22-2.
College World Series appearances -- Fullerton 14; UCLA 2.
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Trivia time
What former UCLA baseball second baseman revived UC Irvine's defunct baseball program in 2002?
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One wild longshot
If you're looking for a horse for today's Belmont Stakes and don't want to bet the girl, bet the gelding.
Imawildandcrazyguy started out as a colt named Cupcake Melee, but the dappled gray had a wild streak.
"The first day I had him in the barn, he dropped the rider, dragged the hot walker and even came after me," trainer Bill Kaplan said.
"I called the owners and told them that he's going to hurt someone or himself. We need to geld him immediately.
"And, by the way, we need to change his name. He's no cupcake."
A 28-1 longshot in the Kentucky Derby, Imawildandcrazyguy closed from last after a half-mile to fourth.
He's 20-1 on the morning line in the Belmont, but Kaplan said his crazy horse is going to love the 1 1/2 -mile distance.
Creme Fraiche, in 1985, is the only gelding to win the Belmont.
Rags To Riches, the filly in the race today, is trying to become only the third filly to win, and the first since 1905.
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No horsin' around